hvnb.net - Workshops

NOW COMPILING 2008 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE You can register for workshops or be added to our workshop announcement list by sending an email to jonah[at]hvnb.net or calling (518) 434-8010. Workshop Descriptions The following are descriptions of workshops HVNB offers. They are intended to give you an idea of what a workshop entails. Keep Posted for dates. Straw Bale Walls The workshop is taught both as a primer in a weekend or a week long intensive. This is a ALL-LEVELS hands-on workshop intended to teach you the basics of raising a straw bale wall, while conveying the many considerations for straw bale design details. We will be raising the walls to a newly constructed timber-frame straw-bale home. The workshop will cover details of: preparing for and executing wall raisings options for securing the walls to the frame securing window and doors in the walls important straw bale design considerations electrical and plumbing and more (cause there's always more)... Straw Bale Plasters This workshop is similar to the Natural Plasters workshop below with more emphasis on base coats and material choices for interior and exterior applications. We will also discuss how plaster choice is essential for a properly performing straw bale building
Cob 101 – Building an exterior cob wall or bench If you are looking for a thorough understanding of how earthen masonry works, it all starts here! This is a super fun workshop where you will be muddy the entire time building an exterior cob wall. We will be mixing cob with our feet to turn masses of sand, clay and straw into a functional work of art. During this workshop you will work with a variety of tools to sculpt cob. We will talk about designing with cob in wet areas as well as its thermal properties for home building. We will also discuss other options for mixing cob on a large scale. Natural Plasters (Lime and/or Clay) This is an ALL LEVELS hands-on workshop. We will plaster new wall with locally harvested materials in place of hanging wallboard. You will leave this workshop feeling confident about mixing your own plasters from scratch for a variety of projects and applications. We will also focus on tool use and technique. During this workshop you will: Make plaster from scratch with locally harvested clay Learn base and finish coat plasters Use a variety of tools, from trowels to your hands. Clay/Alis Painting This is a start to finish project where you will paint an entire room. We will mix a base coat to go over previsouly latex painted walls and mix a finish coat on the second day. You will learn to: mix alis from raw materials apply the paint on a variety of surfaces customize the mix with colors, textures and other effects to meet the needs of your project.
Wood Fired Clay Ovens This workshop can is taught from the "ground up" in 5 days, or can be an abbreviated version in a weekend. Earthen ovens are a traditional focal point of many cultures around the world, where the oven is fired up regularly, brinigng communities together in town or village centers. Now that's what we mean when we say break bread together! The style of oven we will build is informed by designs of ovens from communities in South America , Canada , Europe, and Africa . In this five-day course we'll build a wood-fired earthen outdoor bake oven from local materials. The oven design is perfect for bread , pizza, veggies, pitas, cookies, you name it, and such that once fired up it stays at baking temperatures for 24 hours. We will work from the ground up, starting with the foundation and finishing with sculptural relief and natural plasters. It will be as much a sculpture as a piece of architecture; form meeting function. Participants will work in smaller groups designing, and constructing the oven. We will finish off the workshop with a sourdough lesson and pizza party! Earthen Floors This is a start to finish workshop where we will lay an earthen or clay floor, also known as poured adobe. The floor can go over any type of subfloor including concrete slab or loose fill. The floor will be finished with a natural paint and then oiled and waxed. This is a extended workshop spanning several weekends to cover the extent of finishing topics. Many of the topics covered are suitable for applications around the house. You will leave this workshop with a thorough understanding of working with earthen materials and finishing them for longevity. Workshops range from 5-25 people. Pre-registration required ($25 non-refundable goes towards registration). Cost for two day workshops is $75-125 sliding scale. Includes lunch, tea, coffee, and snacks.
Past HVNB Workshops include Natural Building Sampler Natural Plasters (Lime and Clay) Earthen Plaster for Urban Renovation Clay Plasters Alis Painting Cob 101

Modify Website